In a decisive and far-reaching response to the Pahalgam terror attack, the Indian government has canceled all existing visas for Pakistani nationals and ordered their immediate expulsion, marking a significant escalation in India's diplomatic and internal security posture.
Key Developments:
1. Visa Cancellation and Deportation Orders
-
On April 25, India revoked all valid visas issued to Pakistani nationals, giving them until April 27 to leave the country.
-
Medical visa holders have been granted a slight extension—until April 29—to leave Indian territory.
-
The move follows an unprecedented attack in Pahalgam on April 22, where 26 Hindu tourists were shot dead by terrorists reportedly backed by Pakistan-based outfits.
2. Amit Shah’s Nationwide Directive
-
Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a high-level security review on Friday and directed all state Chief Ministers to:
-
Identify Pakistani nationals residing in their states.
-
Ensure their swift deportation in coordination with central agencies.
-
-
States have been instructed to report daily progress on this exercise to the Ministry of Home Affairs.
3. Diplomatic and Strategic Retaliation
India’s measures go beyond internal directives:
-
Suspension of the 1960 Indus Water Treaty, which governed river water sharing with Pakistan.
-
Closure of the Attari land border transit post, halting all formal overland civilian movement and trade.
-
International allies like the United States have expressed strong support for India, with figures like Donald Trump, Tulsi Gabbard, and the US State Department condemning the attack.
Eyewitness Accounts of the Attack
Disturbing new survivor testimonies provide chilling insight into the brutality of the attack:
-
A survivor woman told India Today that the terrorists:
-
Targeted Hindu men, forcing them to recite Islamic prayers (Azan).
-
Shot those who refused or hesitated.
-
Told her to “go tell Modi,” clearly aiming to send a political message.
-
-
The woman said her father and uncle were among those killed, and that the attackers justified their violence by claiming that their religion was “in danger” because of Hindus.
PM Modi’s Strong Message
In a stern warning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said:
“India will identify and punish every terrorist, and those behind them.”
He emphasized that both direct perpetrators and their supporters, regardless of location, would be held accountable, suggesting further diplomatic and military steps could be taken.
What This Means Going Forward
-
Deportation efforts will now be closely monitored, and legal overstays by Pakistani nationals could face immediate detention or legal action.
-
Tourism, religious pilgrimages, and cross-border medical aid programs involving Pakistan are effectively frozen.
-
India’s move signals an all-of-government response—spanning security, foreign policy, and internal governance—to the biggest terror attack on Indian civilians in Kashmir in recent years.
This marks one of the sharpest deteriorations in India-Pakistan relations since the 2019 Pulwama-Balakot episode.
